Eighth to george goodwin



(No Model.) s'heets-sheen 2.

C. F. FRANCISCO.

GAB. GOUBLING.

No. 425,166. I l Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

J. l'cg. 64 ZQ-). `Z4`7C I Q A TTOHNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES F. FRANCISCO, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- EIGHTH TO GEORGE GOODVIN, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-CQUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,166, dated April 8, 1890.

Application led December 18. 1889. Serial No. 334,146. (No model.)

To all whom, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. FRANCISCO, of San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car- Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in carcouplings, and seeks to provide a simple novel construction of automatic coupler which will be simple and strong of construction and easy and certain in operation; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts,`as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my coupling applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionl of the coupling with the coupling devices in uncoupled position. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the coupling devices in the coupled position. Fig. 4 is a section of the draw-head on about line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a section of the draw-head on about line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top plan view, the top plate being removed. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the coupling-dog. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of, respectively, the under and upper sides of the gravity-block. Fig. IO is a detail view of the lock-piece, and Fig. l1 is a detail view of the lever for operating such lock-piece.

The draw-head A maybe secured to the car in any suitable manner, and is provided with the throat or link mortise a, opening out of its front end, the mou-th being suitably flared to insure the proper entry of the link. At its forward end the base-wall of .the draw-head is formed centrally with a notch B, on opposite sides of which are hook-like portions h, the rear sides of which are in a measure undercut to form hooks and stop-like portions for the trunnions of the coupling-dog. These portions b also form a fulcrum for the link and abutments for engagements by the proj ecting portions of the coupling-dog trunnions in the operating of such parts, as more fully described hereinafter. c

The bottom wall of the d raw-head is formed in alignment with notch D, with a slot C for the Vpassage of the locking-arm of the couplingdog, at the front end of which slotis formed, at D, a bearing for engagement by the hook on said `locking-arm, 4as will be more fully described. Ledges or supporti 11g-surfaces E are provided on opposite sides of slot C and in rear of 'the hooks l), such ledges being arranged to support the trunnions of the coupling-dog and beinginclined at e downward toward their rear ends to cause the dog to move 'rearwardly as the link is withdrawn.

At the rear of the ledges E, I form abrupt stop-shoulders F to limit the rearward movement of the dog, and above and in rear of such shoulders F, I form a bearing-surface G, which inclines downward toward its front end and serves to support and throw the gravityblock forward in the operation of the device. An opening h is formed through the top wall of the draw-head near its front end, such opening serving for the passage of the Vertically sliding lock.

The draw-head is provided on its upper side with a top casing H, having the opening 71. in its floor or bottom and having its top inclined upward from front to rear, and at the rear of which is formed an opening or offset h. The top plate or cover I ot' this casing projects rearwardly beyond the same to form a rain and snow guard, and is preferably arranged, as shown, so it may be conveniently removed when desired and can be rigidly secured. To this end I form at the front end of the top casing an undercut or hook-like bearing at c' for the front end 'of the top plate, and secure the rear end of the said plate by a bolt, as shown; but while this manner of securing lthe top plate may be preferred, it is manifest that it may be secured in other desired manner. Through the rear end of the top casing I form an opening J for the passage of the rod, chain, or other operating-connection for the lock-operating lever, so that in case two draw-heads are bumped hard together or ride up one on the other the chain or connection will drop in the offset or opening and be protected from damage. This offset construction also forms a receiver for the slack of the connecting-chain. Within the top casing I form in its side walls a `pair of guide-channels K and a pair of channels L, the former IOO K serving to Areceive the guide-ribs of the slide-lock and the latter L to receive the trunnions of its operating-lever.

It will be not-iced in the `following description of the several working parts of the coupling thatnone of them are held rigidly to the draw-head; but all are supported so as to operate freely, and so they can be quickly applied to or removed from the draw-head, and yet will be properly held in operative position.

The coupling-dog M is formed with three arms l, 2, and 3, the arm l being formed to secure the link, the arm 2 being` a strippingarln and arranged for en gagementby the link as the latter enters the draw-head, and the arm 3 being a locking-arm to prevent the up* ward movement of the dog when in coupled position. To this end the arm 3 has a hook 4v, which in the coupled position of the dog engages the bearing D of the draw-head and locks the dog from upward movement. Then u11coupled,the arm l rests in the notch B, the arm 2 extending in proper position to be engaged by the entering link, which tends t-o turn the dog to coupled position, the arm l entering and passing up through the link and being engaged and held bythe lock, presently described. It will be noticed that the arm 3 of the dog projects in diametrically-opposite directions to arm l.

In` operation the dog rocks and slides, and, so far as I am informed, it is broadly new in car-couplings to provide a link-securing dog which both rocks on a journal and is capable of sliding. I therefore do not wish to be limited in this feature of my invention to the particular details of construction preferred. In carrying out this feature of my invention I provide the dog with the rigid or fixed trunnions on, which project over and rest upon the ledges E and slide thereon between the hooks b. and bearings F, and are free to turn thereon in the rocking of the dog, as will be understood. These trunnions, it will be seen, are non-circular, being widened out at 5 in the direction of arm 2 of the dog, and having projections or portions o at a point slightly back from the front edge of the arm 1. The purpose of the widened portions 5 is to strike the shoulders F of the draw-head and tend to throw thedog forward as the link enters the draw-head, the under side ot' such widened portions 5 being inclined, as shown, to insure suell end. rlhis widening out of the trunnion and the throwingforward of the dog quickens the turning of the dog and so hastens the passing ot' the lock by the dog, enabling the use of a shorter link than would be otherwise practicable.

It will be seen that as the hnk enters the draw-head it will engage the arm 2 and tilt or rock the dog, causing the portion 5 to strike shoulders F and throw the dog forward, the arm l being moved up through the link. In the uneoupling of the link, as it draws the eonl'rlingdog to uneoupled position, the plo jections C strike thc hooks l) and force the coupling-dog back toward the inclined parts e of the ledges E, down which it slides. It will be understood that as the dog is thrown forward as well as turned by the entrance of the link such construction enables the use of a short link, as only a slight entrance of the link is necessary to turn the arm l of the dog past the lock, which secures such arm to hold the link.

The gravity-block N tit-s in the draw-head and rests upon the inclined surface G in rear of the coupling-dog. This block has its upper side coneaved at 7 to facilitateits passage past the lower end of the lookin inserting and removing the block from the draw-head through the mouth of the latter, and the under side of the block is rounded into rocker form, the weight of the block being so disposed that it will tend` to rock back toward its rear end. At its front end the block is slotted centrally at 8 or bifureated to permit the operation of the armed coupling-dog, and its under side has inclines at i) to facilitate the passage under it of the link, has in rear of such inclines surfaces at l() to bear upon the arms of the link and hold the outer end of the link elevated, and has in rear vof surfaces lO the inclined surface ll, which bears upon the surface G of the base-wall of the draw-head. It will be understood that this gravity-block ts loosely in the draw-head y and slides down by gravity upon the link after it has been pushed up and back by the said link as it enters. The coupling-dog being also loosely fitted in the drawhead, Iform such dog and the gravity-block so that each of such parts will serve to secure the other within the draw-head. 'lo this end the arms of the dog are arranged to engage and hold the gravity-block back. Thus in the uneoupled position of the dog arm i rests in front of the gravity-block and holds it back, the weight of the block at the same time serving to hold the dog down and in operative position. New as the link enters the drawhead it strikes arm 2 and pushes such arm back, and also the gravity-block, the link passing under the block. New as the dog is drawn to uneoupled position by the exit ol' the link the arm 2 passes up under and to a point in advance of the gravity-block, operating to hold such block back, so that it is impossible to withdraw the block so long as the coupling-dog is in place in the draw-head, while by first removing the dog the block may also be removed.

To secure the arm l of the coupling-dog in engagement with the link, I provide a suitable loek N', which preferably is a slide opl erating through opening h', and having ribs '11 which move in the channels Ii in the top casing. In its rearside the slide has a socket or recess 0. The lever I) for operating this slide N has trunnions p, which slide and turn in the channels l) of the top casing. This level' has an arm Q, the point ol' which tits in IOO IIO

rthe socket or recess O, and also an arm R,

which may be called the handle-arm, such arm R curving or inclining forward toward or over the slide, and serving, when such slide is lowered, to prevent any upward jolting or jarring thereof. In effecting this end it will be seen that the relation of the'cover of the top casing, the lever-arm R, and slide N', when the latter is lowered, is such that the cover presents the movement of the said 'arm R by theslide necessary to permit the upward joltin g of the said slide. The operatingconnection Q', which may be a rod, as shown', a chain, or other suitable construction, connects with arm R, and extends thence through the opening J in the rear of the top casing, and may be connected with a shaft journaled to the car, as shown, or to other suitable operating device, as may be desired. Vhere desired, a spring may be arranged to bear between the arm R of the lever and the rear wall of the top casing, as shown; but ordinarily the weight of the slide-lock is sufficient to properly operate it and its lever, and the spring may bedispensed' with.

In operation the entrance of the link effects the coupling, and the uncoupling may be effected by lifting the slide-lock in the manner described, there being no necessity of the brakeman going between the cars at any time.

Where desired, in case of accident or otherwisethe automatic devices may be removed from the draw-head and an ordinary couplingpin be dropped through opening 7L and engage an rordinary coupling-link.

It will be understood that the en gagin g-su rfaces of the slide-lock and coupling-dog may be slightly dovetailed, as shown, or otherwise formed to enable the convenient application thereto of metal plates to take up the wear on said surfaces. At its lower front edge the slide-lock N has a hook-like bearing n, which engages under the top wall of the draw-head and operates .as a means of preventing the upward jolting of the slide-lock when the latter is in coupled position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a car-coupling,.a locking-dog provided with arms and with'trunnions made non-circular in cross-section, whereby to provide projections to engage abutments in the drawhead, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head and the armed dog supported to rock and slide therein, the said draw-head being provided with abutting or bearing portions for engagement by the dog` as the latter is rocked, whereby the rocking of the dog may effect the sliding thereof, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the armed dog, the lock for securing such d'og in coupled position, and the .gravity-block arranged in rear of the said dog, substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-coupling,a gravity-block adapted to support the link in elevated position, having its under side rounded into rocker shape and having its front end bifurcated and formed to bear upon the arms of the link,

substantially as set forth.

5. In a ear-coupling, the gravity-block hereinbefore described, constructed with its upper side concave andV its under side rounded or curved into rocker form, such curve extending gradually up to the upper face of the block at its rear end, the front end of such block being bifurcated and the under side of the block at its front end being formed to lit upon the arms of the link, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a car-coupling having an armed dog and a gravity-block, and in combinationwith such parts, the draw-head having the front lower wall of its throat provided centrally with anotch for the arm of the dog and with portions on opposite sides of such notch to form a fulcrum for the link, the gravity-block being 'arranged to bear upon the link in rear of such fulcrum, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In a car-coupling, the combinatiornwith a' draw-head having a throat formed in it and p an armed locking dog, of a gravityblock adapted to move freely in the draw-head and to be engaged by the arms of the dog, and a lock for securing the dog in coupled position, substantially as set forth. v

8. In a car-coupling, the combination,with a draw-head, of an armed locking-dog supported to rock and slide, a lock for securing such dog in coupled position, and the gravityblock, substantially as set forth.

9. Ina car-coupling, the combination of the draw -head, the armed dog constructed to slide and rock in the-draw-head, anda gravity-block operating` in the drawhead, the armed dog being adapted to secure the link, and the gravity-block to support such link, substantially as set forth.

10.` In a car-coupling, the combination ,with a draw-head having a throat and a free gravity-block Within the throat that is adapted to rest ona coupling-link, of a rocking and sliding armed. dog, one arm of which is adapted to engage and secure a coupling-link when such link is supported by the free gravityblock, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a car-coupling, the combination, Iwith a draw #head having a throat-cavity, of a freely-operating gravity-block within the draw-head, an armed sliding and rocking dog, and a vertically-guided locking device that interlocks with the dog, substantially as set forth.

I2. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head and the armed dog having its trunnions supported to rock and slide in said draw-head, substantially as set forth.

13. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having a support for the armed dog, which support inclines downward to its rear end, and the armed dog arranged to rock and slide on said support, the inclined por- IOO IIO

tion of the latter serving to throw the dog backward, substantially as set forth.

14. In a car-coupling, a locking-dog provided with. a link-securing arm, and with a tripping-arm for engagement by the entering link, and having trunnions which are widened out in the direction of the tripping-arm of the dog, whereby to facilitate the forward movement of the dog on the entrance of the link, substantially as set forth.

15. In a ear-coupling, a coupling-dog having arms and fixed trunnions, the latter being formed with projecting portions arranged to abut portions of the draw-head and throw the dog back on the withdrawal of the link, substantially as set forth.

16. In a car-coupling, a coupling-dog having a link-securing arm, a tripping-arm, and trunnions, such trunnions being widened out in the direction of the tripping-arm, and being provided with projecting portions or shoulders arranged to abut portions of the drawhead and throw the dog back on the' withdrawal of the link, substantially as set forth.

17. In a car-coupling, a coupling-dog having an arm to secure the link, a tripping-arm for engagement by the link, and a third arm or extension adapted to lock the dog from upward movement in the coupled position of the parts, substantially as set forth.

18. In a car-coupling, the improved coupling-dog herein described, having a link-securing arm, a tripping-arm for engagement by the link, an arm or extension to lock the dog from upward movement in the coupled position of the dog, and having trunnions formed with projections to abut portions of the draw-head and widened out in the direction of the tripping-arm, substantially as set forth.

19. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having the front lower wall of its throat provided with hook-like portions, the upper sides of which form a fulcrum for the link and the rear sides of which form a stop and abutment for the dog-trunnions, and having in rear of such hook-like portions supporting-ledges which incline downward to their rear ends, and the armed dog having trunnions supported on said ledges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

20. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the coupling-dog constructed to rock and slide in the said draw-head, having an arm to secure the coupling-link, a tripjiing-arm for engagement by said link as the latter enters the draw-head, and an arm or extension having a hook to engage a bearing on a portion of the draw-head, whereby to prevent the upward movement of the dog in its coupled position, and a latch or lock for said dog, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of the draw-head having ledges for the trunnions of the couplingdoginclined downward toward their rear ends and having a bearing for the gravity-block inclined upward toward the rear, the ddg having its trunnions fitted to said ledge, and the gravity-block supported in rear of such dog and constructed to operate in connection therewith, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of the draw-head having supporting -ledges for the dog, which ledges incline downward toward their rear ends, and having at the forward ends of such ledges hook-like portions, and provided in its bottom with a slot or opening, and the dog having an arm to secure the link, a trippingarm for engagement by the link, and a holding-arm arranged to operate in the slot of the draw-head and to hold the dog down, and having trunnions formed with widened portions to facilitate the forward movement of the dog when it is turned back and with shoulderlike projections or portions to engage the hooks at the front of the ledges when the dog is turned forward, substantially as set forth.

23. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having a throat or link mortise, the dog journaled loosely within said throat, and the gravity-block fltted loosely in the throat, the dog being provided with an arm to receive the bearing or weight of the gravityblock, and all being substantially as described, whereby both the dog and block serve to hold each other in the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

24. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the armed coupling-dog constructed to secure the link, the lock sliding vertically in the draw-head and arranged to secure the dog in coupled position, and the lever for operating said lock, substantially as set forth.

25. In a car-coupling, the combination,with the coupling-dog and the sliding lock-bar arranged to secure such dog and having a mortise or socket, of the lever for operating said lock, such lever having one of its arms extended into the socket or mortise of the lockbar, substantially as set forth.

2G. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the armed coupling-dog constructed to secure the link, the lock-bar ar ranged to slide in the draw-head, and the lever for operating such lock-bar, said lever being journaled loosely in the draw-head and having one arm connected with the lock, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination of the draw-head having the top easing, the armed coupling-dog, the sliding lock guided in said top casing into position to engage the coupling-dog, and the lever, also supported in said top casing and arranged to engage and operate the sliding lock, substantially as set forth.

28. In a ear-coupling, the combination of the draw-head havin(r a to casinnr the armed D b? y coupling-dog, the sliding lock, 'and the lever for operating such lock, said lever and lock being supported in the top casing and the latroo ter being formed with its upper side inclined upward from front to rear, substantially as set forth.

being engaged with the look-bar and its other arm being Curved or extended upward and forward, and the easing receiving said lever and lock, having its top plate or cover arranged close to the upwardly-extended arm of the lever, whereby to look the sliding lock in the coupled position of the part-s, substantially as set forth.

30. In a ear-Coupling, the combination of the draw-head having a top casing formed With channels in its side Walls for the ribs of the slide-look and for thel trunnions of the lever, the slide-look having guide-ribs sliding in one pair of said channels, and the lever having its trunnions supported in the other pair of channels and having one of its arms engaged with the sliding look, all substantially as set forth.

3l. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having a top Casin g and formed with an opening or offset at the rear end of such easing, the coupling-dog, the look for said dog, arranged in suoli easing, the lever for operating such lock, also arranged in the easing, and the operating-commotion secured to said lever and extended through the rear Wall of the top casing, substantially as set forth.

32. In a ear-coupling, the combination of the armed Coupling-dog, the gravity-block arranged in rear-of said dog, the sliding look, and the lever arranged to operate said look, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES F. FRANCISCO. 

